Motion-picture camera accessory for making titles and special effects



May 2, 1950 L: POLLOCK 2,505,990

' IOTION-PICTURECAMERA ACCESSORY FOR MAKING TITLES AND SPECIAL EFFECTS Filed March 3. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .5477/41/ P044 oc/r, 3nventor attorneg May 2, 1950 Filed Batch 3, 1947 L. POLLOCK MOTION-PICTURE CAMERA ACCESSORY FOR MAKING TITLES AND SPECIAL EFFECTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [An/4M 014 3nventor attorney Ma 2 1950 L. PoLLocK y IOTION-PICTURE CAMERA ACCESSORY FOR IAKING TITLES AND SPECIAL EFFECTS Filed March 3, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5.

Zmnentor w W m A 1 attorney M y 1950 L. POLLOCK 2,505,990

MOTION-PICTURE CAMERA ACCESSORY FOR MAKING TITLES AND SPECIAL EFFECTS Filed March 3, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 147/14 P011 oar, 3nventor Ghana Patented May 2, 1950 MOTION -PICTURE CAMERA ACCESSORY FOR MAKING TITLES AND SPECIAL EFFECTS Latham Pollock, Los An Century Engineering Calif.

geles, .CaliL, assignor to Company, Los Angeles,

Application March 3, 1947, Serial No. 732,019

13 Claims.

vide a single accessory unit of exceptional versatility embodying means for making an almost endless variety of title and special effects, including zoom titles, wipes, double exposures,

. scrolls, flip-flops, swing-arounds, forward and backs, fadeouts, outline mask shots, and numerous other effects which have heretofore been possible only with expensive and elaborate professional equipment. Prior titlers for amateur photography have in every instance been limited to a relatively few effects, making it necessary for the advanced amateur to purchase several units in order to obtain the full range of special effects desired. The present invention eliminates the need for a multiplicity of titling units and special effect accessories by providing a single unit capable of producing practically every desired effect-within the range of the cameras limitations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination titler and special effects unit which is adapted to be setup on its own supporting legs for conventional table-top operation, and which is also capable of being mounted on a standard tripod with the camera whereby titles may be made between scenes without removing the camera from the tripod. Outline mask shots, double exposures, extreme close-ups, and other special effects of professional quality may also be made with utmost ease and simplicity while the unit ismounted on the tripod with the camera. A related object in connection with the use of the device on a tripod is the provision of means for holding accessory lenses, filters, sunshades, and the like so that one set of lenses, filters, etc.,

may be used interchangeably with several objective lenses of different focal lengths, thereby eliminating duplication of such items.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined titler and special effects unit which is adjustable to accommodate any make or model of amateur motion picture camera, both 8 mm. and 16 mm., and which therefore need not be discarded when changing size or type of camera equipment.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon considera 20 is a base plate 2 tion of thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention as set up for making titles on a table top or other flat surface; v

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, showing th unit mounted on the head of a tripod;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 in Figure 3, showing the platen assembly and support therefor in elevation;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing a typical outline mask mounted in the card holder;

Figure Sis another view of the platen assembly, showing the manner in which the device may be used to obtain scroll effect titles;

Figure 'I is another view of the platen assembly with a cylindrically curved scroll plate mounted thereon;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7; v

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view taken along the line 99 in Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a view of the lens holder assembly,

as seen from l0l0 in Figure 3;

Figure ll is a view of the offset leg support, taken along the line ll-II in Figure 3;

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the camera base plate and associated frame along the line l2l2 in Figure 2;

Figure 13 is a view of the front end support assembly as seen from the line f3-l3 in Figure 1; and

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a detail taken along the line I4-|4 in Figure 2.

In the drawings, the combination titler and special effects unit of the invention is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral I5, and comprises a camera base assembly I6 which is adapted to be secured to the tripod socket of a camera I1 and which may be set up for table top photography on legs provided for that purpose, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or mounted on the head of a tripod l8, as shown in Figure 3. The camera base assembly [6 consists of a fiat, horizontally disposed frame member l9, preferably in the form of a die casting, having a rectangular opening 20 provided therein, the long dimension of which extends transversely across the frame. Slidably disposed within the opening I which is rectangular in plan and aft direction, and which extends from the front edge of the opening to the rear edge thereof. The width of the opening 20, measured from side to side, is approximately twice the width of the baseplate 2|, permitting the latter to be shifted laterally between two extreme positions located entirely to one side or the other of the center line of the frame IS. The base plate 2| is also preferably a die casting and is provided with flanges 22 and 23 projecting from its front and rear ends along the top edges thereof. The flanges 22, 23 extend over and lie on top of the margins of the opening to support the base plate from the frame member l9. Fixed to the bottom of the base plate 2| is a plate 24 which extends beyond the front and rear ends of the plate 2| to form flanges engaging the frame member |9 along the bottom margins of the opening 20. The bottom plate 24 is connected to the base plate 2| by two screws 25 (see Figure 2) located at opposite corners thereof, said screws being threaded into tapped holes in the base plate 2 Extending downwardly from the midpoint of the-bottom plate 24 is a boss 26 having a central tapped hole 38 which is adapted to receive the attachment screw 28 of the tripod Ill.

The camera I1 is secured to the base plate 2| by means of an attaching screw 3| which may be inserted through either one of two fore and aft spaced holes 32,33 in the base plate 2| and screwed into the tripod socket 29 of the camera. The screw 3| has a knurled head 34, with a shoulder at which engages the bottom surface of the plate 24. The stem 36 of the screw 3| has threads 40 formed on the upper" end thereof and an annular groove 4| in the portion of its length lying just above the top face of the plate 24. Both of the holes 32, 33 are counterbored from the bottom surface to form shallow recesses 42, and a U-shaped retainer 43 is adapted to be positioned in the recess of the hole occupied bythe screw 3| so that the two arm portions of the retainer are disposed Within the channel portion 4| on either side thereof to retain the screw 3| in the camera base assembly IS. The screw 3| may be removed from the hole 32 and inserted into the other hole 33 by removing the two screws 25, which permits the bottom plate 24 to separate from the base plate 2|. can then be removed from the screw 3|, and the latter withdrawn from the bottom plate 24. The screw 3| is then inserted through the rear hole of the bottom plate 24,. the retainer 43 replaced in the groove 4|, and the screws 25 replaced.

Projecting forwardly from the front edge of the frame member l9 are two laterally spaced, parallel guide rods 45, the rear ends of which are threaded and screwed into tapped holes in the frame member. The guide rods 45 are offset to one side of the center line of the frame member I9, with one of said rods being positioned adjacent the left hand end of the frame member l9 and the other lying substantially at the midpoint thereof. I

Slidably mounted on the guide rods 45 is a carrier having two laterally spaced holes 5| and 52 provided therein to receive the rods. Extending into the carrier 58 from the right hand form with its long dimension extending in a ford 4 between the two guide rods 45 are raised bosses 55, and extending through the centers of these bosses is a vertical hole 56. A post 60 is slid- The U-shaped retainer 43 end thereof and intersecting hole 52 is a tapped ably disposed within the hole 56 and is locked in vertically adjusted position by meansv of a knurled head binding screw 6| which is'threaded into a. tapped hole 62 extending into the carrier from the front edge thereof and intersecting the hole 56. A U-shaped lens holder 63 is mounted on the top end of the post 60 and is provided with a pair of fore and aft spaced grooves 64 and 65 on its inner surface which are adapted to receive supplementary lenses 66 (Figure 1) for titling or other close-up work, or

color filters for cloud effects, and a lens shade 10. The supplementary lenses and filters are preferably provided with narrow metal rims (Figure 10) around their peripheral edges which seat in the rear groove 65, and may also have handles 12 by which they may be handled without touching the glass. The lens shade I0 is provided with a barrel portion 13 having a nar row radial flange 14 at its rear end which is adapted to seat in the front groove 64 of the holder 63, and also has a slightly elevated cylindrically curved hood portion 15 extending rearwardly from the top rear edge of the barrel 13 so as to cover the lens 66 or filter andshield the same against the direct rays of the sun or other source of illumination. The hood portion 15 is slightly shorter in span than the distance between the arms of the U-shaped holder 63, leaving a narrow gap through which the handle 12 of the lens 66 projects.

The guide rods 45 are supported at their front ends by an offset leg assembly designated in its entirety by the reference numeral |9 and comprising an inverted U-shaped member 8|], preferably a die casting, having a pair of laterally spaced, fore and aft extending holes 8| in its upper-c0rners which receive the front ends of the rods 45. The rods are slidable through the holes Bi and are adapted to be locked with respect to the member 88 by means of two knurled head binding screws 82 which are threaded into tapped holes extending in from opposite sides of the member and intersecting the holes 8|. A vertical hole 83 extending through the top of the member 80 midway between the rods 45 provides an alternate socket for the supporting post of a platen assembly, indicated generally at 84, which will be described in detail presently, or for any other accessory desired. A knurled head binding screw 85 is threaded into a tapped hole in the front face of the member and is engageable with the supporting post of the platen assembly to lock the same in vertically adjusted position.

Extending horizontally into the front face of the U-shaped member 88 are two vertically spaced pairs of holes 86 and lil (see Figure 11) which are tapped to receive the threaded rear ends of forward guide rods 96. Each pair of holes 86, 81 is spaced apart laterally the same distance as the holes 8|, and is in vertical alignment therewith. The top holes 86 are located just below the holes 8|, while the bottom holes f 81 are disposed in the bottom ends of the downwardly extending legs 9| of the member 80. The forward guide rods 30 may be inserted optionally into either pair of holes 86 or 81, and in the drawings are shown in the bottom holes 81. The purpose of the two pairs of ho1es is to permit raising or lowering the rods 90 .to provide a greater range of vertical adjustment for the rods 99 between the olfset the front support member platen assembly 94 with reference to the camera base assembly I6 than would otherwise be available by merely sliding the supporting post 92 through its associated carrier 93. The advantage of this arrangement is that if the forward rods 99 were fixed to the offset leg'support member at one point only, it would be necessary to locate the rods down near the bottom ends of the legs 9I so as to permit lowering'the platen assembly 94 down far enough to accommodate certain camera models in which the objective lens is located only a short distance above the tripod socket. Then, inorder to permit raising the platen assembly to a level sufficiently high to accommodate other camera models in which the objective lens is located high above the tripod socket, it would be necessary to use a long support post 92 to gain the necessary height. However, if the post 92 is made long enough to serve that purpose, its bottom end will strike the table top when the platen is in its lowermost position unless the supporting legs of the unit are made quite long. The use of long supporting legs is objectionable because the entire unit then stands so high as to be bulky and unsteady. Thus, by providing two vertically spaced sets of holes in the onset leg support member 99 into which the forward rods 99 may optionally be inserted, it becomes possible to secure the maximum vertical adjustment of the platen assembly while at the same time using relatively short support legs.

Th support legs referred to above comprise two rear legs 94 which are adapted to be screwed into the frame member I9, two intermediate legs 95 which are adapted to be screwedinto the offset leg support member 99, and two front legs 96 which are "slidably secured in a front support member 91 mounted on the front ends of the forward rods 99. The camera base frame member I9 is provided at its rear comers with two downwardly and outwardly projecting bosses 93 having tapped holes I99 (Figure 3) formed therein which receive the threaded upper ends of the rear legs 94. When inserted into the holes I99,

the legs 94 extend downwardly in laterally diverging relationship to provide a stable base for the unit. The intermediate legs 95 are likewise threaded at their upper ends and screwed into tapped holes I9I provided in downwardly and outwardly extending bosses I92 formed on the outer sides of the legs 9|. The front legs 96 extend through downwardly and outwardly inclined holes I93 formed in the outer ends of the front support member 91 and are slidable therein. Knurled head binding screws I94 are threaded into tapped holes I95 extending into the ends of the members 91 perpendicular to the holes I93, and engage the legs 96 to lock the same in adjusted positionl The legs 96 are made'long enough to reach the table top when the rods 99 are set in the top holes 99 of the member 99, and are moved up through the holes I93 to shorten their effective lengths when the rods 99 are set in the bottom holes 91. The forward guide rods 99 extend through and are slidable in two laterally spaced holes I96 in the member 91.

Knurled head binding screws II9 are threaded into tapped holes III in the bottom of the meniber 91 and engage the rods 99'to lock thefro'nt support member to the rods.

The platen assembly carrier 93 mentioned earlier is slidably mounted on the forward guide leg assembly I9 and 91, andis identical in shape to the lens holder carrier 59, having two laterally spaced, horizontally disposed holes III formed therein through which the rods 99 extend, and a vertical hole II2 midway between the rods through which the post 92 extends. A knurled head binding screw 3 threaded into a tapped hole H4 in one end of the carrier 93 engages the right hand rod 99 to lock the carrier in position, and a second binding screw 5 threaded into a tapped hole I I6 in the front of the carrier engages the post 92 to lock the latter in vertically adjusted position.

The platen assembly 84 is mounted on top of th post 92 and comprises a yoke I29, rectangular supporting frame I2I, and platen I22. The yoke I29 includes a transversely disposed bar I23 having a downwardly extending boss I24 at its'midpoint which is provided with a socket I25. The top end of the post 92 is inserted into the socket I25, and the platen assembly is rotatable thereon. A binding screw I26 is threaded into a tapped hole I39 in one side of the boss I24 and is engageable with the post to lock the platen assembly against turning. Offsetupwardly from the bar I23 at opp site ends thereof are bosses HI and I32 which are formed with transversely aligned holes I33 (Figure 4). A cylindrical rod I34 is journaled in the holes I33 and projects laterally beyond the outer ends of the bosses I3I, I32. Flxedly mounted on the ends of the rod I34 are two upwardly extending side bars I35 and I36 which are connected at their upper ends by cross rods I49 and I (see Figure 2).

The rods I49, "I are parallel to one another and are spaced apart in a fore and aft direction. Th rod I49, which is nearest to the camera, is fixedly secured at its ends in the side bars I35, I36, while the other rod I is journaled in the side bars and has a crank handle I 42 fixed to the right hand end thereof which projects beyond bar I36.

Thepurpose of the rear rod HI and crank handle I42 is to provide means for pulling a title scroll I43 upwardly across the face of the platen, as in Figure 6, or around a cylindrically curved scroll plate I44 mounted on the platen, as in Figures 7 and 8, and to this end the drive rod I4I is provided with two rather closely spaced, circumferentially extending grooves near its midpoint in which are seated O-rings I45 of neoprene or other rubber-like. material. The O-rings I45 bear on the center roller of three rollers I46 which are journaled on rod I49, and the title scroll is inserted between the O-rings and rollers, as shown in Figure 8. Also journaled on the rod I 49 are two end rollers I59 having radial flanges I5I which extend into circumferential grooves I52 in the drive rod I and which serve to confine the scroll between them so that the latter is prevented from wandering to one side.

From the foregoing, it is seem that the rectangular frame I2I is formed by the bottom rod I34, side bars I35, I36, and top rods I49, Ill. The frame I2I is adapted tobe folded down out of the field of the camera lens, as shown in dotdash lines in Figure 3, by virtue of its pivotal support in the bosses I3I, I32 of the yoke I29 and may be locked in either erect or folded position by means of a binding screw I53 which is threaded into a tapped hole I54 (see Figure 4) extending upwardly fromthe bottom of the cross bar I23 at the right hand end thereof and intersecting the hole I33.

Means are also provided for locating the frame I2I exactly perpendicular to the axis of the camera. lens, said means being preferably in the form of a spring catch I55 comprising a spring strip I56 which is secured to the lower portion of the right hand bar I36. The bottom end of the strip I56 is offset laterally inward and is bent to form a V-shaped lip I60 which bears on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical extension I6I of the boss I32 and which is adapted to seat in a V-notch I62 formed therein when the platen assembly is in its perpendicular position.

The. platen I 22. comprises a flat, rectangular plate I63 of sheet metal disposed within the frame I2I and pivotally supported thereon for rotation about a horizontal axis midway between its top and bottom edges. Outwardly projecting pivot pins I64 and I65 are fixed to the side edges of the plate I63 at their midpoints and are received within journal holes I66 in the frame side bars I35, I36. The right hand pin I 65 has a knob I10 formed on its outer end, by means of which the platen can be turned over. The knob IIis provided with a cylindrical hub portion I'II hav- I ing two V-notches,II2 formed therein 180 de-- grees apart (see Figure 9) which are adapted to receive a V-shaped lip "I at the top end of a laterally offset upper portion of the spring strip I56. The lip I8I rides on the hub portion III of the knob I10 and seats in one or the other of the notches I12 when'the platen I22 is parallel to the side members I35, I36.

The plate I63 of the platen is out out in its center to form a rectangular opening I92, the purpose of which will become apparent presently, and is additionally provided with eight fingers I 83 which are struck out from the plate in pairs at the four corners thereof so that four of the fin-- gers stand out from one face of the plate while the other four stand out from the opposite face. The fingers I83 extend laterally inward toward the midpoint of the plate I63 and are adapted to receive and hold the title cards, cut-out masks,

or scroll plate I. Two laterally spaced ears I84 are bent up forwardly from the bottom edge of the plate I63 to provide a limit stop or bottom rest for the title cards, etc., and are notched at 8 7 its extreme left hand position so that the opening I9I is registered with the platen opening I82,

the field "of the camera lens is entirely unobstructed. As the slide I90 is moved to the right, the diagonal edge I92 progressively cuts across the field of the camera lens until the latter is en tirely blocked by the solid blank left hand end portion of the slide, as in Figure 4. Moving the slide to the right, as just described, when the slide is positioned in the platen with the opening I9I on the right hand side creates a wipe-off effect. The wipe-on effect is produced by reversing the slide I90. in the studs I86 so that the opening I9I is nowat the left hand end, and the solid blank portion of the slide is in front of the cam- Y era lens. The camera is started with the lens blocked, and the slide is then moved to the right so that the diagonal edge I92 of the opening I9I moves across the platen opening I82 until the two openings are in registration and the lens is entirely unobstructed for filming the remainder of the scene. The usual procedure is to combine the wipe-off of one -scene or title with the wipeon of the next, and this is done by backpvinding the film in the camera after making the wipeoff, nd then making the wipe-on on the same portion of film as was used in making the wipeextends transversely across the platen, with fiat their inner ends to receive the edges of a title scroll I43 to hold the latter back against the bottom edge of the platen and to guide the scroll up the center of the platen. A second pair of ears I85 are bent down rearwardly from the top edge of the plate, so that when-the platen is turned over they project forwardly from the bottom edge thereof and serve in the same capacity as the first-mentioned ears I84.

Projecting from the rear edge of each of the frame side bars I35, I36 is a pair of vertically.

spaced studs I86 having heads I81 which are spaced out a short distance from the surfaces of v the bars. These studs serve as supports and guides for a wipe slide I90, shown in elevation in Figure 4 and indicated by dot-dash lines in-' Figure 9, comprising a flat, elongated rectangular plate having an opening I9I located to one side of the center thereof. The opening I9I is approximately the same height as the opening I82 in the platen, and has parallel top and bottom edges, with a vertical side edge adjacent one end of the plate. The other side edge I92, adjacent the midpoint of the plate, is preferably disposed diagonally, asshown in Figure 4, although it may be made vertical, or with any desired con-.1

tour for particular wipe effect. The shorter of the horizontal edges is approximately the same in .length as the horizontal dimension of the platen opening I82, and when the slide is moved over to top and bottom flanges I95 which are adapted to lie against the plate I 63. The ends of the flanges I95 project beyond the ends of the curved portion I94 and have tabs I96 which extend in toward the horizontal center line of the platen. The tabs I96 are adapted to be inserted down hehind the fingers I83 to hold the scroll plate on the platen, and the bottom flange I95 rests on the ears I84 at the lower edge of the platen.

Another effect that can be obtained with the present unit isthe outline shot which is made by inserting a cut-out mask, such as the typical mask 200 shown in Figure 5, in behind the fingers I83 of the platen. The illustrative mask 200 is preferably made out ofblack cardboard, and has using cut-out masks is the double-exposure, wherein the subject appears twice in the same scene. This efiect is obtained by using a mask is taken first with one side of the lens field exposed; the film in the camera is then back-wound.

and the mask reversed either by removing it and replacing it in the new position or byrotating the platen assembly on the post 92; and the scene rephotographed with the subjects arranged in the unobstructed field of the lens.

.When using the wipe slide I or masks 200, it is desirable to shield them from the light so a s to avoid anylight reflection back into the card in the platen and at the end of the while the camera is still running, swinging the their respective 9 camera lens. A removable platen shade III is provided for this purpose, and is shown in dot dash lines inFigures l and 2. The shade III is preferably made up of cardboard stock folded to provide two side panels Ill and a toppanel l", forming a three-Sided. hOOd which is adapted to be mounted on the platen assembly 84 and which extends rearwardly therefrom to a point just ahead of the lens shade It. The edges of the side and top panels converge rearwardly so that the rear opening of the platen shade III is only slightly larger in both height and width if titles or other special eflects are 10 member 81 is removed in its entirety from the forward rods ll.

base plate 2| by the screw ii, and the base plate is then adjusted laterally until the axis or the camera lens is in alignment with the axis of the lens holder support rod ill. The post so is then adjusted vertically to bring the lens holder squarein line with the camera lens, and the carrier is moved back on the rods ll until the lens holder is close to the camera lens. to be made,

' tneplaten assembly is adjusted in a fore and than the diameter of the hood on the lens shade ,simple, inexpensive hood which is convenient to use and which can in storage.

Flip-flop titles are made by inserting title cards in the opposite sides of the platen in such a manner that both cards appear upright when the platen is turned over on its horizontal axis and the cards are viewed from the camera side. The first card is then photographed, and while the camera is still running the platen is turned over rotating the knob I'll to bring the second card into view.

be folded flat for compactness Swing-around titles are also made by inserting title cards in the opposite sides of the platen, except that in this case both cards are placed right side up. The first card is photographed, and the platen assembly is then revolved on the support post 92- to bring the'seoond card into view.

Swing-back titles are made by mounttirg a u platen assembly back down to the position shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 3. An alterhative arrangement would-be to swing the platen assembly down forwardly toward the camera.

Zoom titles may be made by starting with the platen assembly at the extreme outer ends of the forward guide rods 80, and then sliding the carrier 93 toward the camera while the latter is running, until the title is brought up to the proper focus position.

Scroll titles, as mentioned earlier, are made by printing the title on a relatively long strip of paper having the same width as the distance between the roller flanges "I, and then pulling the strip up over the titling area by turning the crank I 42 while the camera is running. A variation on the scroll title is the rolling title, which is made in the same manner except that the scroll is drawn up over the cylindrically curved portion of a scroll plate I which is mounted on the platen. The effect is that of a revolving drum having the titles printed thereon.

The above eifects are merely a few illustrative examples of the many titles and special effects which can be obtained by using the present indownward swinging movement of the" out of vention, and many. others will occur to the experienced and imaginative photographer.

when set up on the tripod, as in Figure 3,

the supporting legs 84 and 85 are removed from sockets, and the trout support aft direction along the rods to the appropri-' "ate position, and in a vertical direction by slid ing the post 92 through the carrier 83. When the unit has thus been set up, it is ready for use. In the case of outline shots-or double exposures, the platen assembly can be folded down the way to permit unobstructed use of the viewer in composing the scene and arranging the subjects, after which the platen assembly is erected again and is ready for action. An-

other advantage of the folding platen assembly is that it permits making titles between, scenes by merely inserting the proper title card in the platen, swinging the platen assembly up to erect position, inserting a supplementary lens in the holder 83, and photographing the title. Any of the aforementioned title eflects may be made with the unit thus mounted on the tripod, and with careful planmng it is possible to photo-' graph entire reels with titles in their correct places, so that ii tie or no cutting and splicing is necessary.

For table top photography, it is necessary only to insert the legs 84, 8| in their sockets, and to replace the front support member 01 on the forward rods 9|. The front support member 91 is not always necessary and may be omitted when making conventional titles, although it adds considerably to the steadiness and rigidity oi the platen assembly when makingany of the special title eflects. j I

While I have shown and described in considerable detail what I believe to be the preferred form of'my invention, it is to be understood that such details are merely illustrative, as various changes may be made in the shape and arranges ment of the several parts without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An accessory unit for motion picture camiustable laterally with respect thereto, a pair of spaced, parallel guide rods extending forwardly from the i'ront edge of said frame member, a carrier slidably' mounted on said guide rods, a vertical post supported onsaid carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, a U- shaped holder mounted on the top end of said post and having a pair of spaced slots provided therein to receive supplementary lenses, filters, lens shades, and the like, an inverted U-shaped member slidably mounted on the front ends of said guide rods, another pair of laterally spaced, parallel guide rods extending forwardly from the front of said last-named member below said firstnamed guide rods, another carrier slidably mounted on said last-named guide rods, a vertical post supported on said last-named carrier and adjustablevertically with respect thereto, a yoke mounted on the top end of said last-named post for rotation about the axis thereof, a rectangm The camera is secured to the ll lar frame pivoted on said yoke for swinging movement about a horizontal axis adjacent its bottom'edge, and a rectangular platen disposed within said frame and pivotally supported thereon for turning about a horizontal axis midway between the top and bottom edges of the platen.

2. An accessory unit for use with a motion picture camera comprising, in combination, a horizontally disposed frame member having a rectangular opening provided therein, a base plate disposed within said opening and movable laterally therein, said base plate having flanges projecting from its front and rear ends along the'top edge thereof and overlying the top surface of said frame member along the margins of said opening, a bottom plate secured to the underside of said base plate and extending beyond the front and rear ends thereof, the ends of said bottom plate engaging the bottom surface of said frame member along the margins of said opening to clamp the base plate to the frame member, said bottom plate and said base plate being provided with vertically aligned, fore and aft spaced holes, the holes in said base plate being counterbored to form a recess between the base plate and bottom plate, a threaded camera attaching screw positioned optionally within either of said holes and engageable with the tripod socket of the camera, said screw having a circumferentially extending groove in its stem portion adjacent said recess, a

12 mounted on the front ends of said guide rode, the downwardly extending legs of said support member being provided with two-vertically spacedpairs of holes in the front surface thereof, a pair of forward guide rods engaged optionally in either the upper or lower pair of holes so as to extend forwardly from said support member, an-

other carrier slidably mounted on said forward guide rods, and a platen assembly supported on 5 spect thereto, an inverted U -shaped support mem- U-shaped retainer positioned within said recess and embracing said groove whereby said screw is held in said base plate when the bottom plate is in place, guide means extending forwardly from the front edge'of said frame member, a carrier slidably mounted on said guide means, and a lens holder supported on said carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto.

3. An accessory unit for use with a motion picture camera comprising, in combination, a frame member, a base plate mounted on said frame member and adjustable laterally with respect thereto, an attaching screw connected with said base plate and engageable in the tripod socket of the camera, a pair of laterally spaced guide rods extending forwardly from the front edge of said frame member, a carrier slidably mounted on saidguide rods, a lens holder supported on said carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, a support member mounted on the front ends of said guide rods, another pair of laterally spaced guide rods extending forwardly from the front of said support member, another carrier slidably.- mounted on said last-named guide rods, 2. platen assembly supported on said last-named carrier and adjustable vertically with respectthereto, said support member and said frame member being provided with sockets to receive removable supporting legs for standing the unit on a table top or the like, and said base plate being provided with a threaded socket to receive the attaching screw of a tripod whereby the unit may be used alternatively on a tripod.

4. An accessory unit for use with a motion picture camera comprising, in combination, a frame member, a base plate mounted on said frame member and adjustable laterally with respect thereto, an attaching screw connected with said base plate and engageable with the tripod socket of the camera, a pair of laterally spaced guide rods extending forwardly from the front edge of said frame member, a carrier slidably mounted on said guide rods, a lens holder supported on said carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, an inverted U-shaped support member ber mounted on the front ends of said guide rods, the downwardly extending legs of said support member being provided with two vertically spaced pairs of holes in the front surface thereof, a pair of forward guide rods engaged optionally in either the upper or lower pair of holes so as to extend forwardly from said support member, another carrier slidably mounted on said forward guide rods, a post slidable vertically with respect to said last-named carrier, and a platen assembly mounted on the top end of said post, said support mem ber and said frame member being provided with sockets to receive removable supporting legs for standing the unit on a table top or the like. 7

6. An accessory unit for use with a motion picture camera comprising, in combination, a camera base assembly having an attaching screw engageable'with the tripod socket of the camera, a pair of guide rods extending forwardly from the front end of said base assembly, a carrier slidably mounted on said guide rods, a lens holder supported on said carrier, a support member mounted on the front ends of said guide rods, said support member having two vertically spaced pairs of holes provided in the front surface thereof, a pair of forward guide rods engaged optionally in either the upper or lower pair of said holes so as to extend forwardly from said support member, another carrier slidably mounted on said forward guide rods, a platen assembly supported on said last-named carrier, a front end support mounted on the front ends of said forward guide rods, said camera base assembly and said support member having supporting legs fixedly secured thereto, said front end support having a pair of legs slidable vertically with respect thereto, and means for securing said legs to said front end support in vertically adjusted position.

7. A platen assembly for use with a motion picture titler and special effects unit, comprising, in combination, a supporting yoke, an open-centered rectangular frame pivoted on said yoke for swing= ing movement about a horizontal axis adjacent its bottom edge, a platen arranged within said frame and pivotally supported thereon for rotation about a horizontal axis extending through the vertical midpoint of the platen, and a spring catch on said frame engageable with said yoke to locate the frame exactly perpendicular to the optical axis of a camera mounted on'said unit,

said spring catch being also engageable withsaid 13 platen to locate the latter exactly parallel to the plane of said frame.

combination, a supporting yoke, an open-centered.

rectangular frame pivoted on said yoke for swinging movement about a horizontal axis adjacent its bottom edge, a platen arranged within said frame and pivotally supported thereon for rotation about a horizontal axis extending through the vertical midpoint of the platen, a spring member mounted on one of the sides of. said frame and terminating at its lower end in a lip bearing on a cylindrical boss on said yoke concentric with the axis of swinging movement of the frame relative to. the yoke, said cylindrical boss having ahotch in its periphery in which said lip seats when-said frame is exactly perpendicular to the optical axis of a camera mounted on said unit, the upper end of said spring member terminating in another lip bearing on a cylindrical hub connected to said platen concentric with the horizontal axis of'rotation thereof, and said hub having a pair of notches formed therein 180 degrees apart, said last-named spring lip being adapted to seat inv one or the other of said notches when said platen is exactly parallel to said frame.

"" 9. A special effects accessory unit for making masked shots with a motion picture cameracomprising. in combination, a camera base assembly attached to the camera, supporting means extending forwardly from said camera base assembly, a platen assembly carried on saidsupporting means, said platen'assembly including an opencenter frame having a transversely extending rod across the top edge thereof, said frame having means provided thereon to receive masks whereby a portion of the field of the camera lens within the open center of the frame is obstructed, and a platen shade for shielding said masks from the light on the camera side thereof so asto prevent reflection of light into the camera lens, said platen shade comprising side and top panels which are adapted to be folded upon one another, and a pair of laterally spaced hooks attached to the front edge of said top panel and engageable with said transverse rod to support the shade therefrom, said side panels engaging portions of said platen-assembly below said transverse rod to limit'downward swinging movement of said shade about said rod, and said platen shade extending from said platen assembly toward said camera for a substantial portion of the distance between them.

10. An accessory unit for making titles and special effects with a motion picture camera, said unit comprising a base plate" having attaching means engageable with the camera, a frame,

member mounted on said base plate, a pair of spaced, parallel guide rods extending forwardly from said frame member, a carrier slidably mounted on said guide rods, a vertical post supported on said carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, a holder mounted on the top end of said post and having means provided therein to receive supplementary lenses, filters, lens shades, andthe like, a member slidably mounted on the front ends of said guide rods, another pair of spaced parallel guide rods extending forwardly from said member below said firstnamed guide rods, another carrier slidably mounted on said lastnamed guide rods, a vertical post supported on said last-named carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto,'a platen carried at the top end of said last-named post,

therein corresponding to the field of the camera and means on said platen for holding title cards, masks, and the like. 11. An accessory unit for making titles and special effects with a motion picture camera, said I unit comprising a base plate having attaching means engageable with the camera, a frame member mounted on said base, plate, a pair of spaced, parallel guid rods extending forwardly from said frame member, a carrier slidably mounted on said guide rods, a vertical post supported on said .carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, aholder mounted on the top end: of. said post and having means provided therein to receive supplementary lenses, filters, lens shades, and the like, a member slidably mounted on the front ends of said guide r ds, anotherpair of spaced, parallel guide rods extending forwardly from said member below said first-named guide rods, another carrier slidably mounted on said last-named guide rods, a vertical post supported on said last-named carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, a yoke mounted on the top end of said last-named post for rotation about the axis thereof, a platen supported on said yoke, said platen having a, rectangular opening provided therein corresponding to the field of the camera lens, and means on said platen for holding title cards, masks, and the like.

12. An accessory unit for making titles and special effects with a motion picture camera, said unit comprising a base plate having attaching means engageable with the camera, a frame member mounted on said base plate, a pair of spaced, parallel guide rods extending forwardly from said frame member, a carrier slidably mounted on said guide rods, a vertical post supported on said carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, a holder mounted on the top end of said post and having means provided therein to receive supplementary lenses, filters, lens shades, and the like, a member slidably mounted on the front ends of said guide rods, another pair of spaced, parallel guide rods extending below said first-named guide rods, another carrier slidably mounted on said last-named guide rods, a vertical post supported on said last-named carrier and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, a yoke mounted on the top endJof said last-named post for rotation about the axis thereof, a rectangular frame pivoted on said yoke for swinging movement about a horizontal axis ad jacent its bottom edge, a platen supported on said frame, said platen having a rectangular opening provided therein corresponding to the field of the camera lens, and means on said platen for holding title cards, masks, and the like.

13. In' an accessory unit for use with a motion picture camera, the combination of: a horizontally disposed frame member having a rectangular opening provided therein, a base plate disposed within said opening and movable laterally therein, said base plate having flanges projecting from its front and rear ends along the top edge thereof and overlying the top surface of said frame member along the margins of said opening, a bottom plate secured to the underside of said base plate and extending beyond the front and rear ends thereof, the ends of said bottom plate engaging the bottom surface of said frame member along the margins of said opening to clamp the base plate to the frame' member, said bott0m plate and said base plate being provided with vertically aligned, fore and aft spaced holes, the

forwardly from said member holes in said base plate being counterbored to' form a recess beween the base plate and bottom plate, a threaded camera attaching screw positioned optionally within either of said holes and engageablewith the tripod socket of the camera,

said screw having a circumtereiitially extendin groove in its stem portionadjacent said recess,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Number Number Folmer May 23, 1911 Name Date Verbeck June 5, 1917 Ritchie July 10, 1917 Teague Jan. 21, 1919 Poser Apr. 20, 1920 Stromberg Apr. 8, 1924 Shinn July 6,1926

Schmidt Aug. 2, 1927 Miller et al Nov. 7, 1933 Brown Mar. 18, 1941 Gance et al Sept. 30, 1941 Munsinger Mar. 16, 1942 Chanosky Apr. 14, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France ..'Feb. 16, 1932 Germany Mar.13,'1934 

